Into the wild

 BRINLEY’S POV

I was numb. I'd gone into town, as required, and returned with the list of supplies Lena had given me. It was dark. I trudged up to the two bedroom rundown house. Lena stood in the little kitchen and barked, "Once you put away the supplies, strip and be on your way. Your clothing will remain here.

Each morning, you will report to me, get dressed and go to work. When finished, you will return, get undressed and get out of my sight."

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled. I kept my head down. I didn't have to look at her to know she was smirking. She was thrilled not to have to deal with me anymore and even more excited at my suffering. She took special satisfaction in my pain.

Silently, I put the supplies away and walked into the small bedroom I used to call mine. Tears washed down my cheeks as I realized there wasn't anything in there that I cared about losing or leaving behind.

Except one...

I reached under the bed and pulled out a small teddy bear. It was a gift from my mother. I slept with it every night but always kept it hidden from Lena. If she knew I cared about it, she would have destroyed it long before now.

My belly growled. I hadn't eaten today. I pushed the hunger pain out of my mind. The only thing left was to remove my clothing and leave. My hands trembled as I unbuttoned my shirt and shrugged out of my jeans. My underwear and bra were the last things to go. I grasped my bear and let myself out the back door, closing it quietly behind me. The night air was crisp, covering my skin with goosebumps.

I let the change happen, falling onto all fours as I shifted into my wolf. I gingerly picked up my bear in my jaws, careful not to puncture the soft fur with my canines, and quickly made my way into the forest. Thankfully, the shack was on the outskirts of the pack, so I wouldn't have to pass anyone coming and going each day.

I let my Wolf guide me. Her instincts were much stronger than mine. And we were going to need every bit of intuition and determination to survive. She moved stealthily with her nose down to the ground, sniffing for prey. I noticed we were headed toward one of my favorite spots to play as a child, a beautiful valley with a crystal clear rushing stream that flowed down from the mountain. When we reached the water, I dropped the bear carefully on the ground and waded into the water, drinking deeply to sate my thirst.

My belly growled again. We needed to eat. 

We will, my Wolf communicated with determination.

She stepped out of the stream and shook the water from her coat. My Wolf held her head still, tasting the scents on the wind and then spun around and headed north. Small game -rabbit, maybe a fox.

Silently, we made our way into the trees, tracking the scent. It was getting closer. She slowed down, taking each step carefully to avoid making a sound. Slinking forward, just as she launched to attack, the rabbit bolted into the thick undergrowth. We chased after it, snapping powerful jaws further into the brush, trying to upheave the animal, but it successfully evaded her efforts, leaving us with a mouthful of foliage instead.

My Wolf spit the grasses and weeds from her mouth, only to continue again. Scenting the air, tracking the scent, darting to attack, but to no avail. Attempt after attempt failed.

We panted, tongue hanging out, under the exertion. Finally, after four hours of unsuccessful hunting, I was so tired, I could barely walk.

Making our way back to the teddy bear, my Wolf gathered it into her mouth and headed up the mountain. There was a ledge not too high up, where, at least, we would have the rock at my back, reducing our vulnerability to predators.

I looked out at the night sky. The moon shone down brilliantly, casting silver hues on the landscape. I used to love watching its beauty, but now I had to turn away. It just hurt too much. Everything hurt. My stomach hurt from hunger. My body ached from exhaustion, and my heart suffered from all that I had lost.

Images of Coal's face flashed before my eyes. His words cut me again and again as they played on repeat in my head. He didn't want me and he never would.

I collapsed back on my haunches, raised my head to the sky and released a pain-filled howl into the night.

I heard only silence in return.

Pulling the teddy bear between my front paws, I dropped my head onto its rounded belly, inhaling the familiar scent. Defeat and rejection washed over me hard and sharp. But tomorrow I would try again. I thought as I drifted off to a fitful sleep.

~~~~~~

Dawn came quickly. And with it, the realization that I needed to return to the pack for my work responsibilities. I looked to the right and left, searching for a safe place to keep my bear. There was another small ledge higher up with some foliage.

I'd have to scale the cliff to reach it, but it would be safer there. I shifted into my skin and shivered in the cold fall weather. Clenching the bear between my teeth carefully, I used both hands to pull myself up the rock, working to find footholds.

When I reached it, it was only a few feet wide, but the bear would be safe tucked inside the foliage.

I gently pried the greenery apart and set the bear inside, letting it close behind me. I shuddered hard when the wind blew harder, my teeth chattering together. I began the climb back down and froze when I heard a branch break in the distance.

Still clinging to the side of the mountain, I spun my head around, my eyes searching the landscape. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw a large dark figure sitting in the distant trees, watching me.

One of my hands slipped on the rock. My heart raced in my chest as I scrambled to catch myself. When I finally made it down, I turned again, only to find nothing there.

Maybe I had just imagined it...